The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-07-19

To London To- find a situation, bringing
his wife with him. He could not as he
had hoped get into a contingencies.
having no experience of business. and
was at last glad to take place in Clap
ton rs a gardener. He had been &C.
customed TO work a little in his own
garden. but the continuous labor soon
broke him down. He had Just recovered
from an illness in which they had parted
with every thing that could be pawned;
and, having often been comforted by
my preaching when he was in Clapton.
he thought Of me very strangely that
morning, in fact he could not get the
thought of me out of his mind. and
determined to call upon me and submit
his case to me for advice. He had been
on the way from half-paSt seven till
eleven, being weak and lame, and was
now in dreadful anxiety about his poor
starving wife. He showed me his last
pawn-ticket: One pair boots, six
shillings.
| asked about their friends He had
been ashamed TO let them know of their
destitute condition; but at last, driven
by starvation, he had written his wife's
mother; and here he took out a packet
of letters and selected from it one which
seemed the most recent. The envelope
bore the postmarks all correctly enough.
and the contents fully corroborated his
story. 1t was the reply of his mother
iu-law, written t. her daughter. his
poor wife. Father was away arraug-
ing for a farm fE dear George, who
was preparing to get married; there
was no money in the house till he re
turned, which would be in two DAYS:
then few pounds would be sent 10
bring them home, and there they would
remain till some suitable situation could
be got, etc. Now. if he could in any
way borrow Il few shillingS for two
or three days. all would be well. and
he would never forget tho kindness:
indeed, he would bring his wife up her
self, To thank me, when the money
came. That letter with all the post
stamps on it, together with the mans
appearance and manner and tears.
satisfied me. l gave him a few shill-
ings, and have never seen him since,
Six weeks afterwards, read letter in
adaily paper, dated Rochester. describ-
ing this same gentleman, and giving
the same story as the means BY which
he was going about there, imposing
upon the kind-hearted TO whom he
could get access. He is probably stiH
performing his little comedy, and ear
rying off in triumph the donations OF
sympathizing listeners.
J
until l had made inquiry; but one fellow
proved too clever for me even then. He
came one night about half-past eight
q big. broad-Shouldered. round-headed.
pugilistic-looking man. whose whole
appearance testified against him He
had just came from the prison at Cos
port, where he had served two wears as
a deserter. When taken. he had been
for some months living in my district
and working at his old trade as a brick
layer, The chaplain had shown him
the folly of his wicked life. and advised
him. as he had expressed his determine
ton to turn over a new leaf, u seek
help from the nearest minister He had
slept in a shed last night. but had that
day got promise of q job to begin to
morrow morning n half-past six But
every hricklaver must have trowel,
line, etc: and he had no tools. nor
money to get them. If l would lend
him a. much, he would be at my house
on Saturday at half-pa>t two. As soon
a. ne got his pay, and return il. and
hoped 10 attend my church and 90 on
in the right way n long a. he lived
He showed me the II branded upon his
side; he offered to leave his coat. worth
three times the money. and took il off
a he said it. Irepljed that it was quite
unnecessary: had a friend. builder
who in the circumstances would lend
him the tools
But an, that would not 10, ~ no Que
must know his story; men would not
work with him if they did He had con
tided in me ii minister. knew how
any one who had been in prison
found ii almost impossible 10 get ans
thing 10 do. This offer had been made
10 him. and seemed 10 open the way ~
q new life. if only he could set the loan
Of four Shjlling> or 50. till Saturday:
and # not, then God help him, he
did NOT know what was u become
Of him; bur he did trust me
that I would keep his secret. Again
he offered me his coat. which was
good one. - asked where the articles
could be cot BE said. In HOLLOWAY
Road now IL WAS past nine O. clock. !
said 7 would 20 with him and see what
could De done; and away we went st
full speed He entered small marine
store, and came out immediately with
"a Sad ce-cheE had none. He thauked
me for nv Kindness: said had acted
Ike n gentleman ana Christian. and
l co4ld DO ne more IaSkcd where was
the nearest place II which he thought
they could ne cot. He said they wer,
sure 10 be- found down near the Angel
l SAID would trust him. gave him foul
>hiUjugS, and with q Eu>h Of gratitude.
he thanked me and said I would see him
en- saturday at halfpaSr TWO sharp
When half ACROSS the street. he turned
back ana said he had nothing % eat
that day-could let him have q cop
per 10 get a biz IF bread, I gave him
twOpaUce-
He never appeared on saturday: but
a friend 70 whom I mentioned the cir
oUm>;aRoe, when in Croydon shout
three months afterwards. saw = letter
in s local psper-which he sent me-
describing this rascal. and stating that
he had called on several persons in that